Configuring network settings on a Windows machine is a fundamental task for systems engineers and IT professionals. This process can be done through the graphical user interface (GUI) or via command-line tools such as Command Prompt (CMD) and PowerShell. This article will guide you through the steps to configure network settings using both methods.

Configuring Network Settings via GUI:

1. Access Network Settings:

   • Open the Control Panel.
   • Navigate to "Network and Internet" > "Network and Sharing Center."
   • Click on "Change adapter settings" on the left-hand side.

2. Modify Adapter Settings:

   • Right-click on the network adapter you wish to configure and select "Properties."
   • Select "Internet Protocol Version 4 (TCP/IPv4)" and click "Properties."

3. Set IP Address:

   • Choose "Use the following IP address" and enter the desired IP address, subnet mask, and default gateway.
   • If necessary, enter the preferred and alternate DNS server addresses.
   • Click "OK" to save the changes.

Configuring Network Settings via CMD:

1. Open Command Prompt:

   • Press Win + R, type cmd, and press Enter.

2. View Current Network Configuration:

   • Run the command:

     ipconfig /all

3. Set a Static IP Address:

   • Use the netsh command to configure the IP address:

     netsh interface ip set address name="Ethernet" static 192.168.1.100 255.255.255.0 192.168.1.1

4. Configure DNS Servers:

   • Set the DNS server addresses using:

     netsh interface ip set dns name="Ethernet" static 8.8.8.8
     netsh interface ip add dns name="Ethernet" 8.8.4.4 index=2

Configuring Network Settings via PowerShell:

1. Open PowerShell:

   • Press Win + X and select "Windows PowerShell (Admin)."

2. View Current Network Configuration:

   • Run the command:

     Get-NetIPConfiguration

3. Set a Static IP Address:

   • Use the New-NetIPAddress cmdlet:

     New-NetIPAddress -InterfaceAlias "Ethernet" -IPAddress 192.168.1.100 -PrefixLength 24 -DefaultGateway 192.168.1.1

4. Configure DNS Servers:

   • Set the DNS server addresses using:

     Set-DnsClientServerAddress -InterfaceAlias "Ethernet" -ServerAddresses ("8.8.8.8", "8.8.4.4")

These examples demonstrate how to configure network settings on a Windows machine using different methods. Whether you prefer the GUI or command-line tools, Windows provides flexible options to manage your network configurations effectively.